Reaching out to the Desperate

Days of torrential rain in September 2010 caused severe flooding along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, (also known as the Jamuna River) in northern Bangladesh. More than 95,000 people were affected. Upon learning of the occurrence, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately allocated a fund of US$15,000 and directed our Association members to help the people in the disaster areas. Our relief team from Formosa reached the capital city of Dhaka on October 1. After discussing the situation with members of CARE Bangladesh, they decided to concentrate their relief efforts on the sandbars of Sirajganj and Sherpur.

On October 3 and 4, our team members travelled to these two districts to assess the situation and the people’s needs. They purchased supplies of rice, lentils, salt, soybeans and oil which they distributed in Sherpur on October 6. Two days later, for safety considerations as weather conditions had deteriorated with strong winds and heavy rain, the team handed over the remaining relief materials to CARE Bangladesh for distribution in Sirajganj in the presence of government officials. In total, 1,550 households received the emergency supplies while lonely, elderly people, widows, and orphans received a double share. For two families whose houses were washed away by floodwaters, our relief team provided sheet metal and other building materials so they could build new homes.

We hope that, with God’s blessing, normality has been restored to these people’s lives. We remain optimistic that people around the world will adopt the compassionate vegan lifestyle so that such disasters can be minimized.

In early January 2011, an unprecedented cold front swept over Bangladesh causing dozens of deaths, most of them children. Supreme Master Ching Hai again extended Her concern and best wishes, and asked our Association members to help those severely affected by the disaster. She also sent a US$15,000 fund for purchasing warm items.

Our relief team proceeded to Bangladesh on January 26. After contacting our fellow practitioners in that area, they decided to focus their relief efforts on the remote Kurigram district. They distributed 2,300 locally purchased blankets along with SOS flyers and other brochures to help government officials and people understand the cause of such extreme weather conditions and its effective solution. The recipients responded warmly and expressed their sincere gratitude for Master’s love and assistance.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai for Flood
and Cold Front Relief Work in Bangladesh

* Throughout the relief operation, team members paid for their own food, transportation and accommodation expenses.